Will Robot Nurses Require a Thermometer or a Dipstick?

(Before I start today's post, I wanted to thank everyone who responded to my last one about employers providing onsite medical care. I learned a lot from your comments, and wanted to say that even though I usually take a stance on something, I welcome everyone's opinion.)

This recent article in MedGadget suggests that robot nurses and doctors aren't far off in our future:

"The European Union is funding scientists to develop 'nurse bots', mechanised robots designed to perform basic tasks such as mopping up spillages, taking messages and guiding visitors to hospital beds...In the future more advanced nurse bots could even be used to distribute medicines and even monitor the temperature of patients remotely with laser thermometers or thermal cameras."

Apparently, the more sophisticated version of these "bots" would work in teams together. I didn't know this, but there are "robo-surgeons" already being employed (or perhaps "employ" is the wrong word).

The theory is these androids will optimize their services to eliminate waste and create a better, more organized method of patient care. This will supposedly give the human element a better chance to thrive, since a lot of the busywork will be handled by machines.

We've come a long way from the TV cartoon "The Jetson's" with their mechanized maid making short work of housecleaning. In some obvious ways, I am reminded of my uncle who lost his auto factory job in the 1980's to a machine. On the one hand, he hated that job and was glad to try something new, but on the other a lot of people lost their way of life.

Which isn't to say that I am automatically against these innovations in technology. For instance, when it comes to things like office computerization or insurance card scanners, I can see the direct benefits. I like the human element in medical care, but maybe that's a generational thing. Children not yet born may one day prefer a healthcare system where the only human face they see is their own.

Still, I am a practical person. Hospitals are complex environments, and once nurse-bots become commonplace, I foresee a long period of adjustment. In other words, patients shouldn't be surprised if the mechanical nurse who just took their temperature used a dipstick, and diagnosed them as a quart low.

Are Doctor's Offices Going the Way of Mom and Pop Stores?

I recently came across this very interesting article in the New York Times about how many companies are now creating on-site medical facilities for their employees. Once thought to be redundant and not cost-effective, corporations such as Toyota, Pepsi and Sprint Nextel are now offering their workers medical care such as "check-ups, allergy and flu shots, pregnancy tests or routine monitoring for chronic diseases like diabetes and asthma."

The employers insist that there is a "firewall" of confidentiality between clinic records and the company, but I am skeptical. While it is doubtless a sign of good management to keep your employees healthy, isn't there a temptation to control the bottom line and perhaps weed out people who aren't with the program?

In other words, doesn't it make sense to keep the company you work for and the doctor you see separate? Isn't your health a personal responsibility and not a business obligation?

I also wonder if the mentality that is used to operate these clinics has the best interests of the patient in mind. After all, they are directly beholden to the company which operates them. Can they maintain the rigor and objectivity of a private practice? Will the quality of care suffer because medicine isn't the main priority?

Still, it's hard to deny the lure of these onsite practices, especially since they are so convenient to the patient. It takes less time out of their work day, and many companies have fully stocked pharmacies, so it's like one-stop shopping.

Finding a physician, making and keeping doctor appointments, or just living a healthy lifestyle all require some degree of effort. Making those choices easier isn't necessarily a bad thing, but we must be careful about such things as the erosion of employer to employee regarding medical care. There may come a time when having a pre-existing condition or a bad personal habit will prevent you from getting employment, as well as the treatment you may need.

A Blog about Blogging

I recently came across a site that suggests a very practical solution to the constant, dull roar of medical reps: blogging. That's right. While many use the blog as a personal or professional diary, it can also serve a more practical purpose, providing medical company reps with ongoing information so you don't have to.

The site provides sample entries. For example, a list of drugs that the office currently needs. Even better is a lunchtime policy that allows you detail everything from the specialties of your physicians to the dietary restrictions of your office should catering be involved.

The medical rep is a necessary evil in modern medicine, and I've become friends with a few of them. Still, in a busy office environment where time is a budgeted item, it can be difficult to offer a detailed analysis of what's needed and how often. Why not create an online blog that you can update as needed to handle all potential questions? Once you spend the time to get it started, it would be an easy and helpful office tool.

Verification Required!

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. I am blessed with a wonderful family, and our office was closed for most of the week between Christmas and New Year's, so I was able to really spend time with them.

One of the recurring themes of this blog is the advancement of medical office technology, and how it makes the services we provide easier and more reliable. I was reading a post on www.healthvoices.com about the fundamental need to make sure every patient is covered by their insurance carrier for the treatment they are about to receive.

The post says that most offices still aren't using an electronic scanner which allows them to swipe the patient's insurance card for quick verification. People are still calling 1-800 numbers like they did back in the 1980's. I can't imagine why office managers would cling to such old and unreliable methods (the post notes that 25% of claims get rejected by insurance carriers due to faulty information).

Granted, it is difficult to start a computer network and modernize your office, but in the long run it is worth it! You not only save money, but you save time and energy as well. Having an electronic scanner installed is just the first step in making sure you and your patients are on the same page.